Gayton McKenzie approves name change of 5 mountains and river

Gayton McKenzie approves name changes of five mountains – and a river

Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, has approved the name changes of five mountains and a river and hill in KwaZulu-Natal.

Gayton McKenzie Paris Olympics 2024 trip

The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture revealed it spent R27.9 million sending Team South Africa to the recent 2024 Paris Olympics. Image: Facebook/Gayton McKenzie

Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, has approved the name changes of five mountains and a river and hill in KwaZulu-Natal.

In a government notice, the new minister stated: I, Gayton McKenzie, Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture officially approved the following geographical names, in terms of Section 10 (2) of the South African Geographical Names Council Act (Act No 118 of 1998):

Meanwhile, the push to rename towns, villages, settlements, townships, mountains, rivers, airports, roads, and post offices – and others – continues in South Africa.

There are currently as many as 66 applications being processed for name changes for geographical features in Mzansi, listed by the South African Geographic Names Council (SAGNC).

The council has gazetted and named or renamed 1 505 geographical features in South Africa since its inception.

The vast majority of those changes have taken place in the KwaZulu-Natal (362) and Eastern Cape (312) provinces.

As reported by The South African website, some of the more notable changes in the province in recent years include:

Port Elizabeth to Gqeberha
Morgan’s Bay to Gxarha
Cradock to Nxuba
Uitenhage to Kariega
King Williamstown to Qonce
Queenstown to Komani
Grahamstown to Makhanda
William Nicol Drive to Winnie Mandela Drive
Ladysmith to Alfred Duma

The next ‘big’ change is reported to be that of East London.

Not happy with name changes

However, not everyone is pleased with the changes being made.

According to Alana Bailey, AfriForum’s Head of Cultural Affairs, it is a cause for concern that the Eastern Cape MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture, Sibulele Ngongoo, recently emphasised in her budget speech that this province has already changed more place names than any other in the country, as if this is a competition and does not cause any disruption.

“Geographic name changes are required when offending names and incorrect spellings are amended. Currently, however, there is a haphazard process underway where proposals for name changes are motivated as necessary for so-called ‘transformation of the cultural heritage’ and ‘restorative justice’ to take place, to quote the MEC,” she said.

Bailey believes that people who support the process are mostly not properly informed about its administrative costs and consequences.

“The impression is further created that affected residents are generally in favour of the changes, while various processes, including public hearings and even a nationwide consultation process by a ministerial task team already heard that people primarily desire job opportunities and effective service delivery.

Symbolic cultural actions such as name changes and the relocation of monuments with public funds are not amongst their most urgent needs at all. Unfortunately, these kinds of actions succeed in polarising communities, which goes against the current political climate and undermines a culture of mutual respect and recognition.”